The Good Liar by Nicholas Searle

Author: Nicholas Searle

Publisher: Harper

Date of publication: February 2016

A stunning and suspenseful feat of storytelling, The Good Liar unravels the past of a man who lives to deceive.

Like Patricia Highsmith’s Tom Ripley, veteran con artist Roy is a born liar—and when he meets wealthy widow Betty online, he knows she’s an easy mark. In no time at all, he’s spinning his web of duplicity and betrayal around her, even moving into her lovely cottage. He’s sure his scheme will be a success: She seems ready to build a life with him, and he is ready to reel her in. He’s done this before.

But who is Roy, really? While this masterful narrative of literary suspense entwines Roy’s and Betty’s futures, it also delves deeply into their pasts. As the clock turns back and the years fall away, truth will out. Before Roy can close the deal, there is a reckoning to be made.

How many lies will it take to make him finally tell the truth?

The Good Liar is a debut novel that involves lies, lies and more lies.  The story goes back and forth between the past and the present. In the present, 80 something Roy is looking for his last big con. He hopes to find it with Betty.  She seems to have her own motives as well.  The rest of the book takes you back through Roy's past in reverse order in which you find out more about him and his life as a con man.  

I'm not sure this book really worked for me. I wanted to like it more than I did. For me, the writing was a bit flat and not engaging enough to hold my interest for long periods of time. I found myself skimming parts of the book.   I had a hard time connecting with the characters, because none of them were very likable. The ending did have an interesting twist, but it just took too long to get there.  The story itself was kind of depressing.  I'm just going to have to chalk it up to not being for me. 

About Nicholas Searle

Nicholas Searle grew up in the southwest of England and studied languages at the University of Bath and the University of Göttingen, Germany. He spent more years than he cares to remember in public service, in the UK  and New Zealand, before deciding in  2011 to leave and begin writing fiction. 

 The Good Liar is his first novel. Nicholas lives in Yorkshire, in the north of England.

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Nicholas’ Tour Stops

Tuesday, February 2nd: From the TBR Pile

Wednesday, February 3rd: Priscilla and Her Books

Thursday, February 4th: I’m Shelf-ish

Monday, February 8th: Ageless Pages Reviews

Monday, February 8th: Worth Getting in Bed For

Tuesday, February 9th: Vox Libris

Wednesday, February 10th: Curling Up by the Fire

Tuesday, February 16th: Book Journey

Wednesday, February 17th: Book by Book

Thursday, February 18th: Kritters Ramblings

Monday, February 22nd: Jenn’s Bookshelves

Tuesday, February 23rd: Books and Bindings

Wednesday, February 24th: she treads softly

Thursday, February 25th: FictionZeal

Thursday, February 25th: A Bookworm’s World

Friday, March 4th: For the Love of Words